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Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs, and win the
elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While
I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster,
the waiver wire can be a limitless resource when it comes to discovering
fantasy value. Each week, I’ll target both offensive and defensive
players — sometimes breakout stars that eluded your team’s
draft — as well as players who can help your squad that may
be lurking in deeper leagues.

Off the Top - Includes my premier
recommendations. These are sometimes players available only in more
shallow leagues, and occasionally guys who are more readily but
are thrust into the fantasy spotlight because of opportunity or
exceptional production.

Digging Deeper - Covers the next
tier of quality waiver wire specimens, usually players available
in a majority of online leagues. There are a lot of gems in this
range who can be plucked rather easily.

Scouring the Barrel - Chronicles
the deepest of fantasy adds — and sometimes highlights players
being tacked onto fantasy squads who I don’t have much confidence
in. Make sure you read the fine print.

Each week, I’ll also provide a brief update on the 20-30 players
I covered the previous week. It’s the most accurate, comprehensive
one-stop waiver-wire column available on the Internet, and it’s
only available here at fftoday.com.

Chad Henne, JAC (@TEN) – The Jaguars impressed in Week
16 by taking the Pats down to the wire and Henne could put up
big numbers versus a reeling Titans defense that was shredded
by the Packers.

Digging Deeper

Ryan Tannehill, MIA (@NE) – Tannehill wants to make a good
last impression before heading into his sophomore campaign. He’s
no longer a rookie, really, and he’s capable of a big day
in New England, where it’s unlikely the Pats will be playing
their best defense.

Scouring The Barrel

Michael
Vick, PHI (@NYG) - Vick (owned in just 50-55 percent of fantasy
leagues) will start for the Eagles in Week 17 after Nick Foles
was diagnosed with a broken hand. While he's likely to be a bit
rusty, the veteran QB is auditioning for a 2013 starting job and
is still capable of huge fantasy performances. Give him a shot
against the reeling Giants. Update:
While Vick isn’t looking at Week 17 as an audition, a strong
performance helps his chances at landing a good gig next season.

Updates

Sam Bradford, STL (@SEA) – Bradford only threw for 196-2-1,
but it was still the 13th best performance by a QB in Week 16.
He’s not someone I’d trust in Week 17 against the
Seahawks.

Christian Ponder, MIN (GB) – Once again the Vikings did
it with their running game and Ponder (174-1-0; 48 rushing yards)
put up mediocre fantasy numbers.

Mark
Sanchez, NYJ (@BUF) – The start went to Greg McElroy and Sanchez
is clearly done as a fantasy option for 2012 and perhaps for the
rest of eternity.

Running Backs

Off The Top

Montell
Owens, JAC (@TEN) – Owens played well in both the running
and passing game Sunday and has a good chance at finding the end
zone against the Titans. He’s a decent RB2 for Week 17. Update:
Maurice Jones-Drew isn’t likely to make a Week 17 return
and Rashad Jennings is on IR. It’ll be the Owens show in
Tennessee.

Peyton
Hillis, KC (@DEN) – A big Week 16 (101 rushing yards on 15
carries) almost assures we’ll see more of him in the finale. The
Chiefs like to grind it out and Hillis is the ultimate grinder.

Digging Deeper

LaMichael
James, SF (ARI) – If the 49ers are smart, they won’t push
Frank
Gore too much against the Cards, a scenario that opens the
door for a big game from James. If you’re still playing in Week
17, James could be a standout performer on a schedule full of
question marks. Update: The 49ers
are playing for a division crown, so they’re looking for
a win. Still, James could be a worthwhile contributor, especially
if the 49ers get a big lead.

Scouring The Barrel

Ryan
Grant, GB (@MIN) – The Packers got a huge game from Grant
against the Titans in Week 16 and they’ll likely ride him hard
during the regular season finale against the Vikings. 75-80 yards
and a TD is a decent bet. Update:
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Alex Green (concussion)
will “definitely be available” in Week 17, so now
we’re likely looking at a three-headed committee in the
season finale.

Updates

Danny Woodhead, NE (MIA) – With just three rushes for 9
yards, Woodhead owners relied on his 2-38-1 receiving line for
his fantasy production.

Mike Tolbert, CAR (@NO) – Tolbert carried the ball just
five times for 28 yards and didn’t reach pay dirt on Sunday.

Curtis
Brinkley, SD (OAK) – With Ronnie Brown active and Jackie Battle
handling most of the work, Brinkley had just one carry for 3 yards
and both Battle (53 total yards) and Brown (39 total yards) were
held in check.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Off The Top

WR Santana Moss, WAS (DAL) – If I’m RGIII, I’m
looking at Santana Moss a lot against the Cowboys who have a hard
time defending crafty little receivers in the red zone. Moss is
available in about 40 percent of fantasy leagues and he’s
got an excellent matchup.

Digging Deeper

WR Donnie
Avery, IND (HOU) – I expect to see a lot of targets go to
Avery in the season finale against the Texans. The Colts are a
passing team and while T.Y. Hilton has performed well lately,
Avery is a good possession receiver with plus route-running skills.
He’s also available in about 50 percent of fantasy leagues.

Scouring The Barrel

WR Dwayne
Harris, DAL (@WAS) – The Redskins will likely double-cover
Dez Bryant and why wouldn’t they? This leaves the door open for
a sleeper to shine and Harris fits the bill.

WR Drew
Davis, ATL (TB) – With the Falcons likely to sit starters
in Week 17, I have a feeling we could see a lot of Drew Davis,
especially in the red zone. Call it a hunch, but this guy could
be a fantasy gem this week. Update:
HC Mike Smith announced the Falcons would “play to win the
game,” but there’s no evidence he won’t pull
the starters early if the game gets out of hand. Like I said before,
Davis isn’t likely to have a monster game, I just have a
feeling he will.

Updates

WR T.Y.
Hilton, IND (HOU) – Hilton had his weakest fantasy performance
since Week 10, catching just two passes for 34 yards. Her also
had one incomplete pass attempt in the red zone.

TE Dennis Pitta, BAL (@CIN) – Pitta didn’t reach the
end zone but hauled in 4-56-0 in the decisive win over the Giants.
He’s an emerging fantasy option and will be a low-end TE1
in drafts next season.

WR Leonard Hankerson, WAS (DAL) – RGIII targeted the dynamic
Hankerson just twice and LH finished with one catch for 10 yards.

WR Domenik
Hixon, NYG (PHI) – Hixon grabbed Eli Manning’s only TD pass
of the game and finished with 3-36-1 in Week 16. Not bad for a
fill-in.

TE Tony Moeaki, KC (@DEN) – Moeaki was a late scratch and
wasn’t active for Week 16’s loss to Indy.

WR Joseph Morgan, NO (CAR) – No targets, no catches. We
knew this could happen although I figured a deep threat like Morgan
would be used more against the Cowboys.

IDP

Off The Top

DL Jabaal
Sheard, CLE (@PIT) – The Bengals did an excellent job getting
to Ben Roethlisberger and the Browns are a prideful bunch who
will leave it all out on the field in Week 17. Expect a big game
from Sheard.

Digging Deeper

DB Stevie Brown, NYG (PHI) – The Giants defense could create
lots of turnovers in Week 17 and Brown is a ballhawking, risk/reward
DB with the opportunity to make game-changing plays. I’m
giving him a shot against Philly.

Scouring The Barrel

LB Will
Witherspoon, TEN (JAC) – Akeem Ayers has been more of a situational
pass rusher than an every-down SLB, while Witherspoon has filled
in more on passing downs. I’m banking on a standout game from
the hardworking veteran LB in the season finale.

Updates

DL Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ (@BUF) – Wilkerson had his third-best
fantasy performance of the season, finishing with five total tackles
a sack and a PD. He’ll be a Top 15 DL in 2013 and has been
one of the only bright spots for the Jets this season.

LB Wesley
Woodyard, DEN (KC) – After three quarters of relative quiet,
Woodyard finished strong and ended up with eight total tackles
and 1.5 sacks, demolishing Colt McCoy on the Browns final offensive
play.

DL Derrick
Morgan, TEN (JAC) – The Titans had trouble getting to Aaron
Rodgers and Morgan finished with just three solo tackles. At least
it wasn’t a goose egg.

LB Chase Blackburn, NYG (PHI) – Blackburn had three solos
and four assists in the devastating loss to Baltimore. He’s
not a great fantasy option (his 2013 prospects are cloudy at best)
but manages to put up okay numbers from time to time.

DB Thomas DeCoud, ATL (TB) – DeCoud’s five solos and
assist were a help to a fantasy line with no PDs or INTs.

DB Quentin Jammer, SD (OAK) – While McElroy had a couple
turnovers, they weren’t at the hands of Jammer, who had
just two total tackles.